Users in Tianjin and Shenzhen will be able to retain their original mobile numbers when they switch to another telecommunications network or operator, with the exception of TD-SCDMA numbers starting with 157. If the trials are successful in Tianjin and Shenzhen, mobile number portability is expected to become a nationwide policy in 2009.

To support the Chinese-grown TD-SCDMA, switches to the TD-SCDMA network that have numbers starting with 157 will be a one-way deal, according to the ministry in issued documents. This means that mobile phone users of other networks may switch to China Mobile's TD-SCDMA network with their numbers, but users of numbers with the 157 prefix are not allowed to retain their numbers when they switch to other networks.

Considering the situations of other countries which have implemented number portability, the policy is unfavorable to strong telecommunications operators while it benefits weak operators who have advantages in fees and package charges. In South Korea for example, one of South Korea's largest telecommunications operators SK Telecom suffered a loss of market share after the implementation of number portability, from over 70 percent to about 50 percent.

Therefore, industry experts in China say the number portability policy may be a part of MIIT's asymmetric regulations against China Mobile.

Source:zdnet